Facial Mask Review: AQUA Hydrogel Mask from Japan

It’s been a year since our trip to Japan, and nostalgia has kicked in. Somehow, I’ve gone a whole year without using much of the cosmetics I stocked up on, visiting every pharmacy that crossed my path while in Japan. After the windy, cold NYC winter this year, I feel like I am in dire need of a facial long overdue. Meanwhile, I’ve been going through my stash and discovering the random facial masks I picked up.

After the windy, cold NYC winter this year, I feel like I am in dire need of a facial that’s been long overdue. Meanwhile, I’ve been going through my stash and discovering the random facial masks I picked up.

Facial Masks from Japan

The mask I picked today is the AQUA High-Quality Hydrogel Facial Mask.

AQUA Hydrogel Facial Mask

On the front of the package, the label reads:

A face sheet mask which gives you moist, plump skin when it is dry. The mask sticks to your skin because it is a separate type so that it can fit your face perfectly. It contains as much as 30g serum. The moisture lasts for a long time. Perfect for special days and for your skin in a pinch. Enjoy a superb relaxing time!

Although this is a mask is a sheet style mask, such as many others found in pharmacies these days, the texture of the AQUA Hydrogel mask’s sheet was a bit different than the typical cloth style ones generally found in these packets. This hydrogel mask is made of a porous, silicone type sheet, which when you first take it out is a bit slimy, but clings so well to the skin, it’s kind of cool. The mask is made of two parts, one for the top half of your face, one for the bottom, so you can play around with it to fit well.

Hydrogel Facial Mask

When applied to the face it feels clammy at first, given that it’s saturated with the hydrogel, but you get used to it pretty quickly.

The instructions on the back are in Japanese, however, it’s pretty clear that it says to keep the mask on for 20 minutes. I actually ended keeping it on for 40 or so, because I tend to get caught up doing other things, and I don’t see any harm in keeping the hydration up for some extra time.

After taking the mask off, the hydrogel sheet was almost completely dry, and my face totally soaked up most of the hydrogel, which is great!

After the mask, my skin was detectably plumper and hydrated, but not overly sticky. I couldn’t speak to the ingredients, animal testing practices, or cost of the mask because it’s all in Japanese, however. it’s definitely fun to experiment with the masks, and I’ll be trying more of the ones I brought back.